Brass Jester
Mongoose
The Mookmaker Ó Brass Jester 2007
A design system to quickly generate ‘off the cuff’ NPC’s who can be written up in more detail later should they be needed. It gives enough detail without wasting too much time. Some tables are randomised for those who like such things (e.g. me).
There are three ways of creating NPC’s for the Conan RPG
The first is using the published stat blocks from adventures or from the rule book(s)
The second way is for major NPC’s. These are the major ‘behind the scenes’ mover and shakers who will cross swords with the players. They drive the story and need to be created in detail.. They should be created from scratch as any other PC; this can take up a pleasant evening assigning X.P, skills and feats; it also helps create a back story for the NPC in question. {Author: more on this later)
The third way is creating the NPC ‘on the fly’.
Creating many NPC’s is difficult; you find yourself slipping into a mindset and creating the same person over and over again. Also, it is time-consuming.
Enter: The MOOKMAKER!
The Mookmaker System is a quick and easy way to create NPC’s. These can be developed later as required using XP.
As per my Adventure Design System; the Mookmaker is designed to make you think. Adapt or disregard what you don’t like; better still, try to account for it.
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As an example, I’m going to create an NPC. Now, I’m going to roll this as I’m writing, so the results could be interesting.
The NPC is working for Orrando the merchant, based in Khorshemish (I made this bit up; my PC’s need to get in touch with Orrando; this is why I need this NPC)
Name Baruch Race: Shemite/Male Class: Thief Level: 2
STR 9 -1
DEX 15 +2 HD: 2d8-2 HP: 10
CON 8 -1
INT 11 +0 Fort –1 Ref +5 Will +2 BaB +1
WIS 14 +2
CHA 4 -3 DV: 13 PV: 9
Skills/ Rank: Appraise 5, Disable Device 1, Sleight of Hand 5, Open Lock 2, Search 5, Climb 5
Feats: Run, Sneak Attack Style, Eyes of the Cat
Equipment: Short sword, dagger, sling & 10 bullets, backpack, outdoor gear, 1 vial Flame Powder
Motivation: Arrogant 13 / Iconoclastic 6
Tag: Wears mask
(True! I did roll this!)
Okay: Obviously, the wearing of the mask and the low CHA must be linked somehow. Also, he is arrogant and iconoclastic; suggesting that the low CHA is a result of an incident that happened to him, causing disfigurement perhaps. So why is he in the service of Orrando?
Maybe he is a slave (indentured servant) who was bought by Orrando. Why was he a slave? We’re in Khorshemish remember. Let’s call him Baruch.
Baruch came up from Shem to raid the infamous Scarlet Citadel and steal it’s secrets. He was captured and held prisoner in the Halls of Horror for many weeks before managing to escape; but the experience has changed him totally and forever, hence the low STR, CON and CHA. Wandering the streets; he was easy prey for slavers, but had the good fortune to be bought by Orrando. Orrando allows him a lot of freedom; Baruch works as a go-between for some of Orrando’s ‘shadier’ deals.
It might be questioned though; having suffered so much in the Halls of Horror, why is he still in Khorshemish?
You can go on forever; adding bits in. However; after about 2 minutes of die rolls; there is a workable NPC that can be expanded, added to and retained as desired.
A design system to quickly generate ‘off the cuff’ NPC’s who can be written up in more detail later should they be needed. It gives enough detail without wasting too much time. Some tables are randomised for those who like such things (e.g. me).
There are three ways of creating NPC’s for the Conan RPG
The first is using the published stat blocks from adventures or from the rule book(s)
The second way is for major NPC’s. These are the major ‘behind the scenes’ mover and shakers who will cross swords with the players. They drive the story and need to be created in detail.. They should be created from scratch as any other PC; this can take up a pleasant evening assigning X.P, skills and feats; it also helps create a back story for the NPC in question. {Author: more on this later)
The third way is creating the NPC ‘on the fly’.
Creating many NPC’s is difficult; you find yourself slipping into a mindset and creating the same person over and over again. Also, it is time-consuming.
Enter: The MOOKMAKER!
The Mookmaker System is a quick and easy way to create NPC’s. These can be developed later as required using XP.
As per my Adventure Design System; the Mookmaker is designed to make you think. Adapt or disregard what you don’t like; better still, try to account for it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an example, I’m going to create an NPC. Now, I’m going to roll this as I’m writing, so the results could be interesting.
The NPC is working for Orrando the merchant, based in Khorshemish (I made this bit up; my PC’s need to get in touch with Orrando; this is why I need this NPC)
Name Baruch Race: Shemite/Male Class: Thief Level: 2
STR 9 -1
DEX 15 +2 HD: 2d8-2 HP: 10
CON 8 -1
INT 11 +0 Fort –1 Ref +5 Will +2 BaB +1
WIS 14 +2
CHA 4 -3 DV: 13 PV: 9
Skills/ Rank: Appraise 5, Disable Device 1, Sleight of Hand 5, Open Lock 2, Search 5, Climb 5
Feats: Run, Sneak Attack Style, Eyes of the Cat
Equipment: Short sword, dagger, sling & 10 bullets, backpack, outdoor gear, 1 vial Flame Powder
Motivation: Arrogant 13 / Iconoclastic 6
Tag: Wears mask
(True! I did roll this!)
Okay: Obviously, the wearing of the mask and the low CHA must be linked somehow. Also, he is arrogant and iconoclastic; suggesting that the low CHA is a result of an incident that happened to him, causing disfigurement perhaps. So why is he in the service of Orrando?
Maybe he is a slave (indentured servant) who was bought by Orrando. Why was he a slave? We’re in Khorshemish remember. Let’s call him Baruch.
Baruch came up from Shem to raid the infamous Scarlet Citadel and steal it’s secrets. He was captured and held prisoner in the Halls of Horror for many weeks before managing to escape; but the experience has changed him totally and forever, hence the low STR, CON and CHA. Wandering the streets; he was easy prey for slavers, but had the good fortune to be bought by Orrando. Orrando allows him a lot of freedom; Baruch works as a go-between for some of Orrando’s ‘shadier’ deals.
It might be questioned though; having suffered so much in the Halls of Horror, why is he still in Khorshemish?
You can go on forever; adding bits in. However; after about 2 minutes of die rolls; there is a workable NPC that can be expanded, added to and retained as desired.
